عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Gulf States Repel Iranian Attacks on Fifth Day of War

Gulf States Repel Iranian Attacks on Fifth Day of War
TT
TT

Gulf States Repel Iranian Attacks on Fifth Day of War

Gulf States Repel Iranian Attacks on Fifth Day of War

As the military confrontation between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other entered its fifth day, Iran continued launching missile and drone attacks targeting several Gulf states. Officials across the region repeatedly affirmed that Gulf air-defense systems were able to intercept most of the incoming threats.

While several Gulf countries announced the interception of dozens of missiles and drones, limited damage was reported in isolated incidents. Governments stressed that their armed forces remain fully prepared to protect national airspace and critical infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia

Major General Turki Al-Maliki, official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, announced on Wednesday that air-defense forces intercepted and destroyed nine drones immediately after they entered Saudi airspace.

Al-Maliki later confirmed that two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj Governorate, about 80 kilometers southeast of the capital, Riyadh. He also reported the interception and destruction of an additional drone in the Eastern Province.

In a related development, an official source at the Ministry of Energy said that the Ras Tanura oil refinery was targeted early Wednesday by an attempted drone attack. The source confirmed that no damage occurred and that oil supplies were not affected.

Qatar

In Qatar, the Ministry of Defense announced that the country had been targeted on Wednesday by a number of drones and two cruise missiles launched from Iran.

According to the ministry, the attack involved 10 drones and the two cruise missiles. The Qatari Emiri Air Defense Forces intercepted six of the drones.

The Qatari Emiri Air Force successfully intercepted two additional drones as well as both cruise missiles, while the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces dealt with the remaining two drones.

The ministry stressed that the Qatari Armed Forces possess the full capabilities and resources necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and territory and to respond decisively to any external threat.

Kuwait

The Kuwaiti Armed Forces announced that they had dealt with a wave of missiles and drones detected in the country’s airspace.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti Army’s General Staff said the armed forces were carrying out their duties in intercepting and neutralizing the targets, emphasizing their full readiness to confront all threats and ensure the protection of the nation’s territory, airspace, and the safety of citizens and residents.

Separately, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health announced the death of a resident child after being injured by falling debris in a residential area of Capital Governorate.

The ministry’s official spokesman, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad, said that Al-Amiri Hospital received the 11-year-old girl through emergency medical services after she was struck by shrapnel that fell in a residential neighborhood. However, she passed away due to her injuries.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles, while 129 drones were detected. Of those, 121 were intercepted, while eight fell inside the country’s territory.

The ministry said that since the beginning of the Iranian attacks, 189 ballistic missiles had been detected heading toward the UAE. 175 were destroyed, 13 fell into the sea, and one landed inside Emirati territory.

Authorities also reported detecting 941 Iranian drones, with 876 intercepted and 65 falling inside the country, in addition to the detection and destruction of eight cruise missiles.

The ministry said the attacks caused some collateral damage, as well as three fatalities and 78 injuries, most of them described as minor.

Bahrain

The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force announced that 74 missiles and 95 hostile drones had been destroyed since the beginning of Iranian attacks on the country.

In a statement, the command said all air-defense systems remain on maximum alert to respond immediately and decisively to missile and drone strikes, which it described as “ongoing and unjustified Iranian aggression.”

It added that specialized field teams are rapidly securing attack sites to ensure public safety and that air-defense systems remain at the highest level of readiness.

The command stressed that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure with missiles and drones constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, affirming Bahrain’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and security.

Maritime Incident Near Hormuz

Separately, the Royal Navy of Oman responded to a report that a Malta-flagged cargo ship had been struck by two missiles near the Strait of Hormuz.

Authorities said the vessel’s 24 crew members were rescued and provided with the necessary medical care, confirming that all were in good health.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince, Canada’s PM Discuss Ties and Regional Developments

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Crown Prince, Canada’s PM Discuss Ties and Regional Developments

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a phone call on Wednesday from Canadian PM Mark Carney.

During the call, the two sides discussed relations between the Kingdom and Canada, as well as areas of existing cooperation between the two countries.

They also reviewed ways to enhance and develop cooperation across various fields.

They further discussed the latest regional developments and their security and economic repercussions in the region and the world.

Gulf

Swiss President: We Stand with Saudi Arabia, US-Iran Negotiations Key to Stability

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Swiss President Guy Parmelin during a bilateral meeting in Jeddah on April 23. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Swiss President Guy Parmelin during a bilateral meeting in Jeddah on April 23. SPA
TT
TT

Swiss President: We Stand with Saudi Arabia, US-Iran Negotiations Key to Stability

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Swiss President Guy Parmelin during a bilateral meeting in Jeddah on April 23. SPA
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Swiss President Guy Parmelin during a bilateral meeting in Jeddah on April 23. SPA

Swiss President Guy Parmelin reaffirmed his country’s support for Saudi Arabia in what he described as difficult circumstances, and stressed the need to press ahead with efforts to reach a diplomatic solution between Washington and Tehran through negotiations, to safeguard regional peace and stability.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Parmelin said the region’s security situation topped the agenda. He expressed Switzerland’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s wisdom and restraint, and conveyed Swiss support.

He said both sides agreed on the need to back all efforts to secure a negotiated diplomatic solution in the interest of regional stability.

"The visit to Saudi Arabia on 22 and 23 April marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries and aimed at further strengthening our bilateral ties at both the political and economic levels. In Jeddah, I was accompanied by HE State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda and a high-level business delegation representing key Swiss industries."

Deepening strategic cooperation

Parmelin said talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Saudi Prime Minister, focused on strengthening economic ties amid global uncertainty.

He said both sides explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, including logistics, commodities, financial services, and insurance, where both countries have strong expertise.

"A key element of the visit was the economic roundtable I co-chaired with HE Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif, Minister of Investment, which brought together leading representatives from government and business on both sides. It was a valuable opportunity to identify concrete areas for enhanced cooperation and strengthen links between Swiss and Saudi companies," he added.

Parmelin said the signing of a new bilateral investment protection agreement with the Saudi investment minister was a main outcome of the visit.

" I was particularly honoured by the presence of HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the signing ceremony, which underlined its importance. The agreement enhances legal certainty for investors and strengthens the conditions for bilateral economic engagement."

Saudi-Swiss relations

Parmelin said relations between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia are close, longstanding, and span more than 70 years, describing them as strong and steadily evolving.

He said the partnership is built on mutual respect, regular dialogue, and growing economic ties, underpinned by a shared interest in stability, open markets, and rules-based international cooperation.

"Economic cooperation is at the core of our bilateral relations. Switzerland is a significant trading partner for Saudi Arabia, and about 200 Swiss companies are actively engaged in the Kingdom across pharmaceuticals, machinery, engineering, technology, commodities, logistics, financial services and insurance."

Parmelin affirmed that Switzerland sees significant opportunities tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, saying: "We also see growing opportunities linked to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation agenda. Swiss expertise in hospitality, research and innovation, sustainable infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and vocational education and training has much to contribute here. On the institutional side, we advance our shared agenda through a yearly Joint Economic Commission, a Bilateral Financial Dialogue, and Political Consultations."

At the institutional level, he said both countries are advancing their shared agenda through a yearly Joint Economic Commission, a Bilateral Financial Dialogue, and Political Consultations. 

"Beyond economic ties, we maintain constructive political exchanges and cooperate in multilateral settings. Saudi-Swiss relations are broad-based and forward-looking, with real scope to deepen collaboration in both established and emerging sectors."

 

Gulf

Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh: Land Transport of Pilgrims Dictated by Regional Conditions

Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Safia Taleb Al-Suhail (photograph: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Safia Taleb Al-Suhail (photograph: Turki Al-Oqaili)
TT
TT

Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh: Land Transport of Pilgrims Dictated by Regional Conditions

Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Safia Taleb Al-Suhail (photograph: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Iraqi Ambassador in Riyadh Safia Taleb Al-Suhail (photograph: Turki Al-Oqaili)

Iraq’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Safia Taleb Al-Suhail said the number of Iraqi pilgrims this year has reached around 41,000, with their convoys beginning to arrive in Saudi Arabia at a rate of about 1,500 pilgrims per day through the Jadidat Arar border crossing in the north of the Kingdom, within an integrated system of services.

Al-Suhail confirmed, in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat, that coordination between Baghdad and Riyadh is taking place at the highest levels, through the ministries of Hajj and Umrah and interior in both countries, to discuss security arrangements and ensure the transport of pilgrims until they perform their rituals with ease and reassurance.

The ambassador explained that Iraq’s adoption of exclusively land transport this year came out of concern for pilgrims’ safety in light of current regional conditions, and to avoid any emergency that could hinder their completion of the pilgrimage, praising the Jadidat Arar crossing and the facilities and advanced infrastructure it provides.

41,000 pilgrims

Safia Al-Suhail said Iraq’s quota for this season amounts to 41,000 pilgrims, according to available information, in addition to 200 doctors, as announced by the official authorities in the Iraqi Hajj and Umrah Commission.

She noted that this quota includes pilgrims from all Iraqi provinces and the Kurdistan Region, along with accompanying administrative, medical, guidance, and media staff.

Adoption of land transport

The ambassador said Baghdad adopted this season the option of transporting pilgrims exclusively by land through the Jadidat Arar crossing in northern Saudi Arabia, a decision taken out of concern for pilgrims’ safety and in line with the current realities in the region.

She added: “The first convoys of Iraqi pilgrims departed on the evening of Sunday, April 26, and their first groups were received under the supervision of Prince Faisal bin Khalid, Governor of the Northern Borders Region, who gives this matter continuous attention that we highly appreciate, as he, along with officials in Arar, ensured that the reception of Iraqi pilgrims was at the highest level of hospitality, facilitation, and services.”

Jadidat Arar crossing

Al-Suhail praised the Jadidat Arar crossing, noting that it “features advanced infrastructure that we personally reviewed along with embassy staff, including a Hajj hall exceeding 9,000 square meters, with a capacity of up to 20,000 pilgrims per day, 68 passport counters, six inspection points, in addition to an integrated medical and security system operating around the clock.”

She noted that “transport is proceeding at a rate of about 1,500 pilgrims per day, via convoys of modern, air-conditioned buses, and rest stations along the route inside Saudi territory, within a fully equipped tent city prepared by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah according to the highest standards, providing accommodation, meals, healthcare, and places for prayer.”

Coordination with the Saudi side

Al-Suhail stressed that relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia are long-standing and well established, bringing together ties of religion, neighborliness, kinship, and shared interests, with the leaders of both countries keen to maintain and develop them across various fields, noting that the Hajj file holds a special place in this relationship as a matter with religious and humanitarian dimensions that rises above any other consideration.

She pointed out that Iraq was the first among more than 150 countries to sign the Hajj arrangements agreement for the 1447 AH season with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, a step reflecting the depth of coordination and the keenness of both brotherly countries to remove obstacles for pilgrims, according to the ambassador.

She added: “Coordination this season has taken place at the highest levels between Iraq’s Supreme Hajj and Umrah Commission and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and in parallel between the interior ministries of both countries, as the Iraqi interior minister held extensive meetings to discuss security preparations and ensure the transport of pilgrims, attended by the head of the Supreme Hajj and Umrah Commission, the head of the Border Ports Authority, operations commanders, and provincial police leaders, in cooperation with their counterparts on the Saudi side.”

According to the ambassador, “coordination included securing the land routes inside Iraq up to the Arar crossing, after which the Saudi side assumes responsibility from the crossing to the holy sites, within an integrated framework that reflects what can be described as ‘fraternal security coordination between the two neighboring countries.’”

Preparing a tent city to accommodate pilgrims

Regarding facilities, she commended the efforts made by the Kingdom under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince in serving pilgrims, noting that services include streamlined customs and passport procedures, round-the-clock health and emergency services, full logistical support, transport and guidance services, in addition to a tent city designated to accommodate pilgrims, affirming that Saudi personnel working at the crossing are playing a notable role.

She affirmed that the Iraqi diplomatic mission, in coordination with the consulate general in Jeddah and the Iraqi Hajj mission, is following up on pilgrims’ affairs and providing the necessary consular and administrative services.

Al-Suhail recalled, in her remarks on the land route, the “Zubaydah Trail,” one of the oldest Hajj routes in Islamic history, associated with Zubaydah bint Jaafar, wife of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who devoted her wealth to developing it and providing water for pilgrims between Kufa and Makkah.

In conclusion, the ambassador affirmed that Iraq, with its government, people, and religious authorities, places the Hajj journey above all considerations and works in a spirit of partnership with Saudi Arabia to ensure that this season is smooth, safe, and successful, God willing.